New Delhi: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution was the ‘largest’ environmental risk to human health in 2019, responsible for an estimated 12.5% deaths annually. It carries responsibility for one in every eight deaths, a WHO press release stated.
In 2019, air pollution, both ambient and household, was linked to 83% of all noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), making it one of the major causes of death worldwide. The report, Sustainable Development Goal indicator 3.9. 1: mortality attributed to air pollution, presents a summary of the results of the WHO’s latest burden of disease assessment due to air pollution from particulate matter (PM).
It emphasises the need and urgency to ensure air pollution is fully integrated into the global agenda on NCDs.
The report highlights that reducing deaths and disease from air pollution is possible, but action is needed urgently in all sectors and settings, including energy, transport, land use, and with regional and international cooperation. It is crucial that leadership is taken by the health sector, including engaging healthcare workers in understanding the impacts, advising patients, and leading by example in healthcare facilities and in daily life.